Insect trap

ABSTRACT

An insect trap constructed preferably of transparent plastic, including two hollow telescopable cylinders and a cylindrical plug. When telescoped, the cylinders are rotatably and slidably mounted upon the other. Each of the cylindrical side walls of the cylinders is divided into a plurality of longitudinally directed circumferentially spaced alternating slots and dependent segments. The segments of one cylinder are disposed and dimensioned so as to cover the slots of the other cylinder in the closed position, and uncover the slots in the opened position. The end wall of each cylinder is provided with a centrally located circular opening. The cylindrical plug is provided with a selected outer diameter to enable it to be slidably inserted in each circular opening, the plug being of a length to reach from one end wall to the other end wall when the cylinders are in the telescoped position. The plug may be lifted out of one of the circular openings to allow the captured insects to be transferred through the unpluged opening into another container.

United States Patent Braunhut Aug. 29, 1972 Filed:

Inventor:

INSECT TRAP Harold N. Braunhut, c/o Honey Toy Industries, 200 FifthAve., New York, NY. 10010 Sept. 3, 1970 Appl. No.: 69,230

[57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl ..43/1l0 cumferentially spaced alternatingslots and dependent [51] Int. Cl. ..A01m 1/10 segments. The segments ofone cylinder are disposed [58] Field of Search ..43/110, 107, 121, 131,129, and dimensioned so as to cover the slots of the other 43/132cylinder in the closed position, and uncover the slots in the openedposition. The end wall of each cylinder References Cited is providedwith a centrally located circular opening. m UTE HTS The cylindricalplug is provided with a selected outer D STATES PATE diameter to enableit to be slidably inserted in each 2,383,960 9/1945 Dupuy... ..43/ 131circular opening, the plug being of a length to reach 3,494,067 2/1970Potrzuskl ..43/ 110 from one end wall to the other end wall when thecylinders are in the telescoped position The may Shea-fiel be out of naof the circular openings to allow 1,700,517 1 1929 ROSS ..43/ 131 thecaptured insects to be tranSfen-ed through the pluged opening intoanother container. Primary Examiner-Warner I-I, Camp Attorney-Friedman &Goodman 10 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures 68 62 5 6 Q i 5 2 2 2 l I 4/ IO(464 J 2 O 20 i 1 e3 q 3 s I il l 3 e 3 8 s PATENTEDauszs m2 SHEET 1 0F2 HAROLD N. BRAUNHUT INVENTOR ATTQRNEYS PATENTEDAUBZQ I912 3.686; 788

SHEET 2 OF 2 FIG. 8. HAROLD N.BRAUNHUT INYIENTOR ATTORNEYj' INSECT TRAPThe study and breeding of insects has for a long time been a source ofknowledge, education, diversion and entertainment. Efficient traps andcontainers for transporting and transferring these insects for use inscience study or other purposes are needed. This invention is related totrapping means for insects, such as ants, which may be attracted bysuitable baiting means, such as food or other attractive materials, andto devices for transporting and transferring the entrapped insects asdesired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A three-part trap comprising an outer and aninner hollow telescopable and rotatable cylinder and a cylindrical plug,each cylinder having an end wall and side walls, the end walls eachbeing provided with a central circular opening into which thecylindrical plug may be fitted. The side walls of the cylinders areprovided with a plurality of peripheral slots and segments arranged sothat the cylinders may be rotated to have the segments of one oppositeto and extend beyond the edges so as to completely cover the slots ofthe other to define a closed position, or to have the slots of oneoverlie the slots of the other to define an opened position. The innercylinder is provided with a rotation guide slide groove with an outerflange provided with alternating peripheral slots and segmentscorresponding to the slots and segments of the side wall of the innercylinder, with wedge shaped ends and stopping wedges on one or more ofthe flange segments corresponding with wedge-shaped depressions in thecorrelating segments of the outer cylinder. Lifting the plug out of oneof the circular openings allows the captured insects to be transferredthrough the unplugged opening to another receptacle.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a simple unitto which insects will be attracted, and allowed or enticed to enter andthen held captive.

Another object of the invention is to provide a trap which may be usedto transport the insect if desired, and from which the contents may betransferred to another device with facility and ease, and from which thepossibility of escape, accidental or otherwise, is a minimum.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a trap inwhich the insect may be kept for a longer or shorter period of time in acomfortable and humane manner.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a devicesatisfying the above objectives, and in which the insects need not betouched or otherwise handled or manipulated.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device ofthe character as above described, and in which the contents are visibleand may be inspected and studied at all times.

And yet another object of the present invention is to provide a devicewhich is suitable for use by children as well as adults.

And still yet another object of the present invention is to provide adevice of the character as herein described, which may further be usedas a source of education, study and entertainment.

An additional feature of the present invention is the provision of adevice which is economical to manufacture, requires a minimum of parts,is simple and easy to assemble, maintain and use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Having in mind the above and otherobjects that will be evident from an understanding of this disclosure,the invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements ofparts as illustrated in the presently preferred embodiment of theinvention which is hereinafter set forth in such detail as to enablethose skilled in the art readily to understand the function, operation,construction and advantages of it, when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an insect trap pursuant to thepresent invention, showing the insect trap placed upon an insectreceiving receptacle with the transferring plug in the transferposition;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the present invention, taken along line2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing three elements of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, top plan view, in section, of the device in atrapping or open position;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 4, showing the device in aclosed position;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 77 of FIG. 5; and I FIG. 8is a fragmentary, elevational view, in section, of a modified form ofthe device provided with a locking rim to prevent separation of thetelescoped cylinders.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The trap includes three main elements, anouter telescoping cylinder 10, an inner telescoping cylinder 26 and anexit plug 52. The elements are constructed of a suitable material,preferably a transparent plastic.

Outer telescoping cylinder 10 and inner telescoping cylinder 26 areprovided with end walls 12 and 28, respectively. End walls 12 and 28 areeach provided with a circular opening or aperture 14 and 30,respectively. Cylindrical side walls 16 and v32 of outer cylinder 10 andinner cylinder 26, respectively, are provided with peripheral slotssymmetrically disposed as shown at 18 and 34, respectively. Slots l8 and34 extend longitudinally to end walls 12 and 28, respectively.

Outer cylindrical side wall 16 and inner cylindrical side wall 32,therefore, are comprised of symmetrically disposed outer segments 20 andsymmetrically disposed inner segments 36 alternating with symmetricallydisposed outer side wall slots 18 and symmetrically disposed inner sidewall slots 34, respectively. Outer cylinder end wall 12 is provided witha rim 22 extending beyond outer cylinder side wall 16.

Inner cylinder end wall 28 is also provided with a rim 38 extendingbeyond the inner cylinder side wall 32. Rim 38 is provided with aperpendicularly extending side wall 40. Side wall 40 is spaced inrelationship and parallel to inner cylinder side walls 32. Rim 38 andits side wall 40 in conjunction with the inner cylinder side wall 32form an inner cylinder guide groove 54 of sufficient width toaccommodate the thickness of the outer cylinder side wall segments 20.Outer cylinder 10 when telescoped onto the inner cylinder 26 isrotatable, with the outer cylinder dependent segments 20 sliding withinthe inner cylinder guide groove 54 and retained in position in thegroove 54 by the inner cylinder flange 40.

As may be noted from the drawings, the symmetrically disposed innercylinder side wall slots 34 are of narrower width than the equal innumber symmetrically disposed outer side wall slots 18. The side wallslots 34 are also narrower in width than the equal in numbersymmetrically disposed outer side wall segments 20. It therefore isobvious that the symmetrically disposed inner side wall segments 36 arewider than the equal in number symmetrically disposed inner side wallslots 34 and also of greater width than the symmetrically disposed andequal in number outer cylinder segments 20 or slots 18. It is thereforereadily seen, as shown in FIGS. 4 through 7, that the cylinders whentelescoped onto each other may be rotated with respect to each other tothe open positions as in FIGS. 4 and 6, where the slots are positionedso as to have the slots 18 of the outer cylinder 10 aligned with theslots 34 of the inner cylinder 26, or rotated to another or closedposition as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, where the segments 20 of the outercylinder are in opposition to inner cylinder slots 34, where thesegments of the outer cylinder 10, because of their greater width,overlap the slots 34 of the inner cylinder 26.

Inner cylinder side wall 40 is providedwith, or has cut into it, slots44. The slots 44 are, equal in number and width to the inner cylinderside wall slots 34. Inner cylinder side wall 40, thus, includes innercylinder side wall segments 46 alternating with the slots 44.

As appears in FIG. 8, to retain and lock the outer cylinder 10 in itstelescoped position upon the inner cylinder 26, each of the outercylinder side wall dependent segments 20 may be provided with outwardlyextending flanges 62. The guide groove side wall segments 46 may beprovided with inwardly extending flanges 42 to cooperate with theflanges 62 to retain the outer cylinder 10. The width of the guidegroove 54 may be modified to accommodate the flanges 62.

One or more of the guide groove side wall segments 46 may be providedwith inwardly extending stopping wedges (not shown) and one or more ofthe edges of the outer cylinder dependent segments 20 may be providedwith complementary wedge-shaped chambers (not shown), these Wedges andcomplementary chambers may serve as rotation limiting means as well asto frictionally hold and retain the cylinders in the telescopedposition.

As hereinbefore described, the end walls 12 and 28 of cylinders 10 and26, respectively, are each provided with centrally located circularopenings 14 and 30, respectively. Circular openings 14 and may furtherbe provided with flanges 56 and 58, respectively, to guide the exit plug52, as will be hereafter described.

Cylindrical plug 52 is provided with an outer diameter of apredetermined size to enable it to be slidably inserted and to close offthe circular openings 14 and 30. It is of sufficient length to reachfrom the end wall 28 of the inner cylinder 26 to the end wall 12 ofouter cylinder 10 when the outer cylinder 10 is telescoped onto theinner cylinder 26, and to provide a slight overlap at the end wall 12 ofthe outer cylinder 10 for a function which will be hereafter described.Plug 52 is also provided with an annular retaining ring 60 in spacedrelation with one end as will also be hereinafter described. The plug 52may be a solid element or may be tubular in construction as shown, wherethe end adjacent to the ring 60 is preferably closed at 62.

The trap is assembled by inserting the cylindrical plug 52 into theannular opening 30 of the inner cylinder 26 with the annular retainingring 60 impinging upon the end wall 28 or its flange 58. Ring 60 isspaced from the end of plug 52 so that the end of the plug when insertedwill be flush with the outer surface of the inner cylinder end wall 28.Outer cylinder 10 is now placed upon plug 52, with the other end of theplug 52 now extending through the annular opening 14 of the end wall 12of the outer cylinder 10. The telescoped cylinders may now be rotatedwith reference to each other to a position where the outer cylinder sidewall slots 18 are opposite to and uncover the inner cylinder side wallslots 34, or to a position where the outer cylinder segments 20 areopposite to and because of their greater width overlap and close off theinner cylinder side wall slots 34.

While the outer cylinder and wall slots 18 are shown as in FIGS. 2 and 3as extending the entire length of the outer cylinder side wall 16, theymay be of shorter length, thus providing for a stronger side wall ifdesired.

Attractive material, such as food, may be placed in the main trapchamber 64 formed by the cylinders 10 and 26 when telescoped together.The trap may be placed in an area known to be frequented by the insects,such as ants, to be collected or trapped with the trap adjusted to theopen position. The insects, at tracted by the lure, will find little orno hindrance to entry, and will enter the device. The cylinders of thetrap may then be rotated to the closed position with the insectsentrapped. The device may be used to entrap a plurality of insects priorto being closed. The entrapped insects may now be convenientlytransported, whereby the insects may be conveniently transferred toanother container, such as a receiving receptacle 66, as shown in FIGS.land 2.

The trap is placed upon the receiving receptacle 66, the end 68 of theplug 52 projecting beyond the end wall 12 of the outer cylinder 10 isgrasped and lifted. Plug 52 as shown in FIG. 2, may now be lifted untilthe ring 60 impinges upon the inner surface of the end wall 12 or itsflange 56, if provided. The insects may now conveniently be transferredor will escape into the new container or receptacle 66 through theannular opening 30 in the inner cylinder end wall 28. For greaterconvenience and ease in handling, operating and carrying the trap, therims 22 and 38 have been provided.

Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggestthemselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understoodthat the present disclosure relates to a preferred embodiment of theinvention which is for purposes of illustration only, and not to beconstrued as a limitation of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An insect trap comprising an outer and an inner hollow cylinderadapted to rotatably telescope one upon the other, said trap having anopen and a closed position, each of said cylinders being provided with acircular end wall closing one end of each cylinder and a longitudinallydependent cylindrical side wall, the other end of each of said cylindersbeing open, each of said cylindrical side walls being divided into aplurality of longitudinally directed circumferentially spacedalternating slots and segments with said segments on each outer cylinderside wall being equal in number to said slots on said inner cylinderside wall and disposed and dimensioned so as to cover and overlap saidslots when said outer cylinder is rotated to the closed position, saidslots on said outer cylinder side wall being disposed so as to beopposite said slots on said inner cylinder side wall when said outercylinder is rotated to the open position, at least one of said side endwalls being provided with an aperture therethrough, and the other ofsaid end walls being provided with means movable between a firstposition closing said end wall aperture when said hollow cylinders aretelescoped upon each other and a second position opening said end wallaperture when said insect trap is in said closed position.

2. An insect trap comprising an outer and an inner hollow cylinderadapted to rotatably telescope one upon the other, said trap having anopen and a closed position, each of said cylinders being provided with acircular end wall closing one end of each cylinder and a longitudinallydependent cylindrical side wall, the other end of each of said cylindersbeing open, each of said cylindrical side walls being divided into aplurality of longitudinally directed circumferentially spacedalternating slots and segments with said segments on each outer cylinderside wall being equal in number to said slots on said inner cylinderside wall and disposed and dimensioned so as to cover and overlap saidslots when said outer cylinder is rotated to the closed position, saidslots on said outer cylinder side wall being disposed so as to beopposite said slots on said inner cylinder side wall when said outercylinder is rotated to the open position, each of said end walls beingprovided with a centrally located annular opening of the same radius,and a cylindrical plug adapted to be removably inserted into eachannular opening to close the annular openings when said hollow cylindersare telescoped upon each other.

3. An insect trap comprising an outer and an inner hollow cylinderadapted to rotatably telescope one upon the other, said trap having anopen and a closed position, each of said cylinders being provided with acircular end wall closing one end of each cylinder and a longitudinallydependent cylindrical side wall, the other end of each of said cylindersbeing open, each of said cylindrical side walls being divided into aplurality of longitudinally directed circumferentially spacedalternating slots and segments with said segments on each outer cylinderside wall being equal in number to said slots on said inner cylinderside wall and disposed and dimensioned so as to cover and overlap saidslots when said outer cylinder is rotated to the closed position, saidslots on said outer cylinder side wall being disposed so as to beopposite said slots on said inner cylinder side wall when said outercylinder is rotated to the open position, said end wall of said innercylinder bei rovided with an outwardl extendin rim rojeciir ig beyondsaid inner cylinde i' side wal said rim being provided with aperpendicular side wall, said perpendicular side wall being divided intoa plurality of slots and segments equal in number and disposed in thesame manner as said slots and segments on said inner cylinder side wall.

4. An insect trap according to claim 2, wherein said cylindrical plug isprovided with a retaining ring at substantially one of its ends, saidretaining ring being adapted to prevent passage of said] ring througheither of said end walls.

5. An insect trap according to claim 2, wherein each of said end wallsincludes a longitudinally dependent annular guide flange surroundingsaid annular opening.

: 6. An insect trap according to claim 1, wherein each df said end wallsis provided with an outwardly extendiiig rim extending beyond saidcylindrical side walls.

7. An insect trap according to claim 3, wherein said sfegments of saidperpendicular side wall of said rim extension is provided with aninwardly extending perpenicular flange, and said dependent segments ofsaid side wall of said outer cylinder is provided with an outwardlyextending flange adapted to slide under said in- Wardly extendingflange.

8. An insect trap according to claim 3, wherein one of said segments ofsaid cylinder rim extension side wall is provided with a wedge-shapedprojection, and one of said dependent segments of said outer cylinder isprovided with a complementary chauffer.

9. An insect trap according to claim 1, wherein said trap is constructedof transparent material.

10. An insect trap comprising a pair of relatively rotatable hollowcylinders telescopically received one within the other, each of saidcylinders being provided with an end wall and a longitudinally extendingside wall, said side walls each being divided into a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced alternating slots and segments disposed anddimensioned so that said segments of one cylinder cover and overlay saidslots of the other cylinder when said cylinders are relatively rotatedto a closed position, said slots in each of said cylinder side wallsbeing disposed in registration with each other when said cylinders arerelatively rotated to an open position, said end walls of said cylindersbeing provided with registering apertures, an axially extending plugdisposed within each of said apertures of said end walls, said plugbeing axially moveable from a position wherein both of said aperturesare obstructed to a position wherein one of said apertures is open.

1. An insect trap comprising an outer and an inner hollow cylinderadapted to rotatably telescope one upon the other, said trap having anopen and a closed position, each of said cylinders being provided with acircular end wall closing one end of each cylinder and a longitudinallydependent cylindrical side wall, the other end of each of said cylindersbeing open, each of said cylindrical side walls being divided into aplurality of longitudinally directed circumferentially spacedalternating slots and segments with said segments on each outer cylinderside wall being equal in number to said slots on said inner cylinderside wall and disposed and dimensioned so as to cover and overlap saidslots when said outer cylinder is rotated to the closed position, saidslots on said outer cylinder side wall being disposed so as to beopposite said slots on said inner cylinder side wall when said outercylinder is rotated to the open position, at least one of said side endwalls being provided with an aperture therethrough, and the other ofsaid end walls being provided with means movable between a firstposition closing said end wall aperture when said hollow cylinders aretelescoped upon each other and a second position opening said end wallaperture when said insect trap is in said closed position.
 2. An insecttrap comprising an outer and an inner hollow cylinder adapted torotatably telescope one upon the other, said trap having an open and aclosed position, each of said cylinderS being provided with a circularend wall closing one end of each cylinder and a longitudinally dependentcylindrical side wall, the other end of each of said cylinders beingopen, each of said cylindrical side walls being divided into a pluralityof longitudinally directed circumferentially spaced alternating slotsand segments with said segments on each outer cylinder side wall beingequal in number to said slots on said inner cylinder side wall anddisposed and dimensioned so as to cover and overlap said slots when saidouter cylinder is rotated to the closed position, said slots on saidouter cylinder side wall being disposed so as to be opposite said slotson said inner cylinder side wall when said outer cylinder is rotated tothe open position, each of said end walls being provided with acentrally located annular opening of the same radius, and a cylindricalplug adapted to be removably inserted into each annular opening to closethe annular openings when said hollow cylinders are telescoped upon eachother.
 3. An insect trap comprising an outer and an inner hollowcylinder adapted to rotatably telescope one upon the other, said traphaving an open and a closed position, each of said cylinders beingprovided with a circular end wall closing one end of each cylinder and alongitudinally dependent cylindrical side wall, the other end of each ofsaid cylinders being open, each of said cylindrical side walls beingdivided into a plurality of longitudinally directed circumferentiallyspaced alternating slots and segments with said segments on each outercylinder side wall being equal in number to said slots on said innercylinder side wall and disposed and dimensioned so as to cover andoverlap said slots when said outer cylinder is rotated to the closedposition, said slots on said outer cylinder side wall being disposed soas to be opposite said slots on said inner cylinder side wall when saidouter cylinder is rotated to the open position, said end wall of saidinner cylinder being provided with an outwardly extending rim projectingbeyond said inner cylinder side wall, said rim being provided with aperpendicular side wall, said perpendicular side wall being divided intoa plurality of slots and segments equal in number and disposed in thesame manner as said slots and segments on said inner cylinder side wall.4. An insect trap according to claim 2, wherein said cylindrical plug isprovided with a retaining ring at substantially one of its ends, saidretaining ring being adapted to prevent passage of said ring througheither of said end walls.
 5. An insect trap according to claim 2,wherein each of said end walls includes a longitudinally dependentannular guide flange surrounding said annular opening.
 6. An insect trapaccording to claim 1, wherein each of said end walls is provided with anoutwardly extending rim extending beyond said cylindrical side walls. 7.An insect trap according to claim 3, wherein said segments of saidperpendicular side wall of said rim extension is provided with aninwardly extending perpendicular flange, and said dependent segments ofsaid side wall of said outer cylinder is provided with an outwardlyextending flange adapted to slide under said inwardly extending flange.8. An insect trap according to claim 3, wherein one of said segments ofsaid cylinder rim extension side wall is provided with a wedge-shapedprojection, and one of said dependent segments of said outer cylinder isprovided with a complementary chauffer.
 9. An insect trap according toclaim 1, wherein said trap is constructed of transparent material. 10.An insect trap comprising a pair of relatively rotatable hollowcylinders telescopically received one within the other, each of saidcylinders being provided with an end wall and a longitudinally extendingside wall, said side walls each being divided into a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced alternating slots and segments disposed anddimensioned so that said segments of one cylinder cover and overlaY saidslots of the other cylinder when said cylinders are relatively rotatedto a closed position, said slots in each of said cylinder side wallsbeing disposed in registration with each other when said cylinders arerelatively rotated to an open position, said end walls of said cylindersbeing provided with registering apertures, an axially extending plugdisposed within each of said apertures of said end walls, said plugbeing axially moveable from a position wherein both of said aperturesare obstructed to a position wherein one of said apertures is open.